June 4, 2012 at 10:44 PM
Red Sox select Pat Light with 37th pick
With the 37th overall pick in the draft, the Red Sox have selected Pat Light, a junior right-handed pitcher from Monmouth University.
Listed at 6'6'', 200 lbs., Light's stock coming into the year largely relied on pure arm strength with a fastball that sits 90-96. However, this season his slider really began to develop, according to Baseball America, which lead to him dominating the competition. He finished the season with a 8-3 record, 2.40 ERA, 102 strikeouts and a mere 16 walks over 101.1 innings. His performance earned him Collegiate Baseball/Louisville Slugger All-American Third Team honors.
The development of the slider along with the 2012 performance elevated his stock and made teams believe that his future could be in the back end of a starting rotation. However, his floor and quicker route to the major leagues could be as a late inning reliever where his fastball would play up even further.
Light was originally drafted in the 28th round in 2008 by the Minnesota Twins, but the New Jersey native ultimately chose not to sign and to attend in-state Monmouth.
The bonus amount for the 37th pick is listed at $1,394,300. Light, ranked anywhere between the 55th and 85th-best prospect in the draft by the major outlets, could possibly sign for less than that and leave the Red Sox with some money to allocate to another 2012 draft pick.
Will Woodward is a staff writer for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter @SPWill.